A/n: A third one! (I'm on fire! (Fall Out Boy intensifies)) Don't question the fangirling omg dragons I just can't. For those who can: here's another oneshot - bit longer this time!
It's over. The old alpha's gone, Toothless... Toothless might be the new alpha. I need to check on that one; it's a bit unclear. If I can just get out of the way of these villagers, first...
"Good luck, Hiccup!"
"You'll be great!"
Oh, of course, I can't escape just yet. Can't the chiefly duties take a break while I find my dragon?
"Okay, back off! He's new to this chiefin' thing; let him rest!" Gobber, helpful as ever, is able to tell when I can't deal with the crowd. I get the feeling I'll be asking him for guidance a lot during the next few weeks. At least I have a chance to get to Toothless now.
It doesn't take long to find him; he's the only night fury - at least, the only we've found so far - and, for all his stealth in the night, his black scales stand out terribly in broad daylight. The fact that every other dragon is brightly coloured doesn't help, either.
"Toothless!" I yell, hopping slightly as I fall into a run to reach him quicker. The dragon races over to me, too, tongue lolling out of his mouth with each ridiculous gallop. "Oof!"
Typically, Toothless has barrelled right into me, sending me crashing into the floor. A predictable, yet painful, result of calling him over. "Good to see you, bud." It may have only been a few minutes since the battle ended, but it feels like an age - especially now that the adrenaline's wearing off.
Speaking of adrenaline wearing off, Toothless is opening his mouth, jaws gaping to replicate the yawn coming from my mouth. It's kind of cute, until his saliva starts dripping onto my face.
"Come on!" I roll my eyes at the dragon as I shake my head slightly to remove the spit. There's no point in reminding him that it doesn't wash out; I haven't had a wash in days, by now - I stink anyway.
Washing can wait for a while though. I'm not the only one here who needs a bath - no matter what Toothless may insist - and besides, the celebration's just begun.
And, typical to all Viking celebrations, a little roughhousing is already underway. "Cut it out!" I shout, voice lacking real authority, as I rush over to the twins. They're already arguing over something, probably which dragon head actually belongs to who.
"Sorry Hiccup. I mean, uh, chief," Tuffnut corrects himself, straightening himself out - but not before giving Ruffnut one last not-so-subtle kick, which she returns in double the strength.
It's a shock, to see someone looking at me with that respect. This whole chief business is going to take a lot of getting used to, and not just the duties. People respect me now. Not just in a 'oh Hiccup, you're such a hero' way, in a proper, 'you're the chief, our decision is final' way.
Wow.
"Just call me Hiccup," I say, distracted by the pair of dragons behind them. "Be right back!" I promise, though the disbelieving looks on both twins' faces tells me that neither quite believes me.
Stormfly and Cloudjumper are the two distracting me. They seem engrossed in conversation, in a way only dragons know how to communicate: jumping around each other. The frolicking is reminiscent of a Viking's tendency to speak through his axe instead of his mouth; just another way our two species interlink.
"Hey guys," I say with a smile. A light rush of air behind me tells me of Toothless's presence there, and I smile at his reassuring presence. "You okay?"
Cloudjumper smiles at me, then bows his head slightly. The display of respect, commonplace between the dragons of Berk, also serves to reveal Valka's presence on her dragon's back. "Hey, mum."
Valka smiles at me, using her staff to swing herself to the ground next to me. "Hey, Hiccup."
I return the smile, yawning again as I open my mouth slightly. Valka laughs slightly at that, sharing a look with Cloudjumper. "You should get some rest," she advises.
"Aw, come on!" Not a day into her resuming her motherly duties, and she's already sending me to bed? Well, I'm a chief now, I can -
"Don't give me that look," she warns, chucklng again. "I'm every bit as stubborn as you are, and it looks like you'll drop of your own accord soon enough."
"Fine." I say, smirking at the victorious nod that spreads across my mother's face, "I'll make sure to collapse onto Toothless."
Though not the response she was looking for, Valka accepts my stubbornness with a small eye roll, and wanders off to talk to some of the older tribe members. She must have a lot of catching up to do, after spending twenty years away from everyone. And so much has changed for everyone to tell her about...
"Hey Hiccup!" Astrid's cheery call nearly sends me to the floor. As it is, I manage to just catch myself, using Toothless to balance as I swivel round.
"Hey..." My sentence is once again interrupted by a yawn, "Astrid. What's up?"
"A bunch of dragons." And Astrid's sarcasm is correct; a few dragons fly overhead as she speaks, their riders whooping in joy as they reach top speed.
"Hey! Sarcasm's my thing!" I argue. Astrid laughs at the reaction.
"Sleep should be your thing," she tells me, pushing me off in the direction of my house. A nap is sounding like a better and better idea, but sleeping in an empty house? Not so much. Besides, it may have been trashed - or iced, rather - in the battle.
"Really? I've already had this talk!" I point over to Cloudjumper and Valka, both in the middle of befriending a gronkle, "I don't need you mothering me, too."
"Fine." Astrid says, crossing her arms indignantly, "See who's right when you're falling asleep on your feet."
I roll my eyes at her insistence, then walk off. It's time to find a nice place to nap, because, despite my saying otherwise, I can tell I'm about to fall asleep.
Luckily, Toothless can sort the problem out for me easily. He uses his tail to sweep me off his feet, cocooning me in his wings before I can hurt myself on the floor. I mumble a few protests just to keep up appearances - I'm sure I can hear Astrid's laughter outside of Toothless's protective embrace - then close my eyes and work on resting.
I'm running out of ideas but I don't want to stop writing...
So... anyone got any requests? (Please I just want to write about these beautiful characters...)